Forward-looking faith

Monday February 18, 2013

Ever felt this way?

Diminished in position. Like someone took away your identity, your specialness.

Maybe you’re no longer a mom of a toddler, or a teen…maybe the kids have grown up and moved on. What you were, for the longest time, is not what you are now. In fact, you may not even be sure of who you are right now.

Diminished in presence. Geographically, you’ve moved or someone you love has.

You’re home alone now. Or at work alone, missing someone you care about. You’ve been taken out of your comfort zone and transplanted somewhere you didn’t expect.

Diminished as a person. You’ve been criticized, degraded, lowered in your (or someone else’s) eyes.

It feels like life is ganging up on you. The media says stay-at-home moms are… the latest poll reports that women between the ages of… the number of church-going Americans is… All of a sudden, you feel like the minority.

Not a day goes by that I don’t experience one of those.

I miss the crazy days when this house reverberated with the noise and energy of four rambunctious boys. I’m pushed out of my comfort zone into an awkward, prickly situation. Someone criticizes my teaching, and I feel less worthy as an educator.

In the face of that kind of adversity, where to go? Joseph’s story hits home.

• Removed of the cloak that identified him as the favored son, his position was trashed.
• Placed in a cistern and then sold to a band of foreigners, Joseph’s presence faded away.
• First a slave—virtually, property—then wrongfully accused and imprisoned, what was he now?

He was part of a greater plan.

And in the midst of my adversity, I can’t dwell on today’s woes or yesterday’s suffering. Instead, my eyes should be on the One with the greater plan.

After all Joseph went through, look where he ended up!

He rose up to unlikely prominence, saving an entire nation from famine.

In his own personal life, God used his adversity to picture redemption and reconciliation (for us, generations later), bringing together his unlikely band of brothers, loving them back into relationship and reuniting a grieved father and son.

And after all that suffering, what did Joseph have to say?

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20).

Sorrow, decline, even tragedy… “intended…for good to accomplish…the saving of many lives.”

As our wise pastor said on Sunday, “Sorrow looks back. Worry looks around. Faith looks forward.”

No matter what I face today, Father, give me forward-looking faith.

 

I'm linking up with Laura, Michelle, Naomi, and Jen today.

Photo credit

Battle of the Tiger Mother: My Response

Monday January 31, 2010

I’ve struggled with my response to the Tiger Mother.

Maybe you’re not familiar with the recent controversy. If that’s the case, read Amy Chua’s Wall Street Journal article here.

I must admit, I haven’t read her book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. I’ve followed Chua and the book through articles posted in several newspapers.

If you’ve read the article above, you might want to also read Chua’s response to Wall Street Journal readers here. She makes the point that this is a sort of “coming-of-age” book for Mom, describing her journey in parenting. She moderates the stance presented in the first article somewhat.

I can’t speak from any kind of pedestal; I’m far from a perfect parent. But I’ve decided that the biggest difference between me and the Tiger Mother lies in my faith.

My faith affects my life and forms my attitudes toward my children. I know I’m loved unconditionally by a holy God – a God who is greater, more excellent, more superior than I can express. I can give Him nothing less than my best.

Success – to me and my children? It’s not measured in the eyes of society. And happiness? It has a totally different definition. The Tiger Mother and I both want the best for our children; her best and my Best are two different things

And that holy God – He’s the perfect Parent; I can’t even pretend to be. Yes, I fall short. But He still loves me. He encourages me, forgives me, and inspires me to do and be my best with all the abilities He’s gifted me with.

What better model for parenting?